UG Parks & Rec. Awarded $200K in Grants to Enhance Urban Tree Canopy

Published on October 02, 2025

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas (UG) Parks and Recreation Department has been awarded a total of $200,000 in no-match grants from the Kansas Forest Service. This funding was received through two separate $100,000 grants under the Kansas Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry Program, which supports communities in maintaining and improving the health of their urban forests.

The first grant was awarded on April 22, 2025, and the most recent grant was awarded on September 5, 2025, reinforcing the department’s long-term commitment to the sustainability and safety of the city’s urban tree canopy.

Strategic Investment in Trees: Planting and Removal

The grant funding will support two key initiatives that will be implemented across 13 public parks and city-managed spaces:

• A total of 120 new trees will be planted to expand and rejuvenate the urban canopy.
• Approximately 45 dead or hazardous trees will be removed from parks and public rights-of-way to protect public safety and promote overall canopy health.

These efforts will be carried out through a combination of contracted tree care professionals and the dedicated work of the UG Parks and Recreation team.

Creating a Healthier and Safer Urban Canopy

This project is part of a broader succession plan designed to manage the natural life cycle of trees throughout the city’s public spaces. By proactively replacing aging and deteriorating trees and planting new ones in their place, the UG is working to ensure a greener, safer, and more resilient environment for years to come.

Benefits of this work include increased shade in parks, improved air quality, reduced heat impacts, enhanced aesthetics, and greater biodiversity throughout the community.

No-Match Funding Provides Cost-Free Support

A key aspect of this achievement is that both grants are no-match grants. This means that the funding does not require the Unified Government to contribute any matching local funds. The full cost of the tree planting and removal efforts will be covered by the Kansas Forest Service, allowing the UG to make meaningful improvements at no cost local taxpayers.

Looking Ahead

With the recent award of another round of this valuable grant, UG Parks and Recreation continues to make significant strides in building a stronger, healthier urban forest. These efforts reflect the department’s dedication to environmental stewardship, public safety, and community wellbeing.